LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 3

LEAGUE OF NATIONS.

EVOLUTION OF LAW

SLOW, GRADUAL PROCESS. PEACE OR PERISH. (T. \V. Kealy.) “Human nature never changes, so there will always he wars-—they cannot he prevented.” How often do wo hear this remark, and yet, if we look at facts, how .easy is the proof that it is a fallacy! It is not so very long ago, as human progress is reckoned, that Europe was inhabited by savage tribes, led by rude chiefs and warring constantly among themselves. It is barely a century since this state of things existed in New Zealand. At an earlier age slill the unit of life was the family. Every man’s hand was raised against his neighbour, and might was right beyond all question or appeal. But changes came. It was discovered that when several families gathered together lo live as.a tribe life became more secure and work became lighter. At the same time, of necessity, developed the rudiments of law. Something more than mere force was found to be required if a dozen families were to live together in any harmony. Then, too, the tribe was weakened if two of its best warriors killed each other in a private quarrel. The law was rough and ready—often only the arbitrary decision of the chief—but for all that the advance was great. Growth of Law.

As time went on the tribe gave place to the kingdom, and the need for law became more urgent; but its growth was slow. . Even much later than the Norman Conquest there was no settled or adequate system for the administration of justice throughout England. But human nature was changing and demanding a better system of settlingdisputes, and more even justice. Hence came gradual change, until by Tudor times the King's Courts had become all-powerful, and men throughout the whole kingdom of England were governed by the same law. Ever since then the system has been growing more perfect. Justice has become more certain and more sure. Yet even now the law is but a system, anti would fail but for the fact that the great majority of our people believe in it, observe it, and support its enforcement. Having this support it is invincible. In the realm of international relationships the growth of law has been more slow. Disregarding the ancient rules of heraldry, it was not till 1625, when Hugo Crotius published his treatise on the “Laws of War and Peace,” that a system of international law was seriously considered, and to him must be given the credit of laying the real foundation of international law. From his lime on a system has been slowly but steadily developing, principally by treaty, and by the decisions of prize courts in times of war. Recognition was slow, and the subjects dealt with limited in scope, until the time of the Hague Conference at the end of last century, when the first great modern advance was made. Subjects discussed at the Hague included disarmament, means for the pacific settlement of disputes, and improvement of the rules' of war.

The New Era. It is, However, the establishment of the League of Nations in our own times which really opened the door to the new era which is so essential if our civilisation is to contitnue. It is now an accepted dictum that “civilisation must learn peace or perish.” For just as even primitive peoples discovered that quarrels among their own tribesmen, unchecked by law, meant destruction to the tribe, so it is being increasingly realised to-day that- unchecked war on a large scale may mean destruction to civilisation itself. Will the League of Nations work? The answer to that question depends entirely on whether or not it -receives the considered support of the world’s peoples, on whether they are determined to outlaw war as a crime against humanity. No national law can he long enforced unless it has behind it the backing of public opinion, and this statement especially applies to the work of the League of Nations. League of British Nations. *\Vho two hundred years ago could have conceived of a world-wide community of self-governing nations, including black, white, brown and yellow races, living peaceably together, hound by a common allegiance? Yet to-day we have the British Commonwealth. War is not dreamed of between Canada and England, or England and Australia. The door is open, and the lesson is piain. If the people of every nation can he brought to work for peace the reign of law must come, and war he as much a thing of the past as private duels arc to-day. Tennyson’s vision of “the nations’ airy navies grappling in the central blue” has already been fulfilled. Grant that the power of law may also go onward till, as in Ills further vision, “Tile war drum throbs no longer and the battleflags are furled; in the Parliament of man, the federation of the world.” This time will come, but whether it be soon or late depends on whether or not people are to-day prepared to work as whole-heartedly for peace as they do in preparation for war.